Portugal

Located on the southwestern side of the European continent, sharing the Iberian Peninsula with Spain is Portugal. With its beautiful climate, miles of coastline, and exotic cuisine, there are many reasons to visit this country.

Classified as a Mediterranean climate, Portugal has some of the warmest weather in Europe. During the summer months, the temperatures are the warmest, averaging around 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit. The winters are typically windy, rainy, and cold with temperatures averaging around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow falls in the mountain regions of Portugal but tends to melt rather quickly. Beautiful weather makes people want to go outdoors and in Portugal there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy and experience. Portugal is abound with beautiful beaches. Many of them offer water sports such as surfing, fishing, and sailing. And if you are the type of person who likes to get some sun on their buns, there has been an increase in the popularity of clothing optional beaches. Golf has also seen a recent surge in popularity in Portugal. Golfers Today, a British Magazine about golf ranked Portugal “Best Golf Destination 2006” with 14 of the country’s courses ranking in the top 100 for Europe. Many of the resorts offer classes with the pros to help you improve your game. Cycling through the mountainous region of Geres or white-water rafting in the river Douro are two other activities that provide exhilarating experiences while visiting Portugal.

Eating in Portugal can be an adventure in itself. Full of flavor and very filling, Portuguese cuisine is closely related to Mediterranean cuisine and is characterized by the wide variety of spices used during preparation. These include piri piri or small, fiery chili peppers, black pepper, as well as cinnamon, saffron and vanilla. Olive oil serves as a base for many dishes and because of the geographical location of Portugal, sea food is very popular.

So visit Portugal and witness for yourself the surprising variety of spectacular landscapes and cultural treasures in combination with lower prices than many other European destinations, and have one of the most rewarding travel experiences in the world.